Months pass in the aftermath of the battle. There is no sign of another attack, and the demons and angels have finally returned to their own realms, the great war seemingly avoided for the time being. Thamiezel is lost in his dark thoughts: thoughts of vengeance, thoughts of torture and bloodlust. He sits on his throne, extending an aspect of himself outside to search the dead worlds for any sign of Wendy and Alice. He is also contemplating many horrible punishments to inflict upon those who may have harmed them.
"I'll cover them in their own shit and suffocate their bodies… no… that would only work on a human… I'll rip out their soul and stab it and stab it and stab it… yes… that could work… or… yes. I'll subject them to watching endless reruns of the original Star Galactors series forever. It'll drive them insane…"
Thamiezel senses Zelestra enter the throne room, returning from attempts to stabilize the broken walls of the galaxy.
"Brother, any sign of Wendy?"
"None… our allies in Inferno have not heard of her capture. She wasn't in spirit form in the battle… they found security footage of her abandoning one of the destroyed world ships. She fled in a goblin warship without proper coordinates. So they could be anywhere."
"If the Empire of the Sovereign Sun had maintained our shield, then they would only be able to travel within our own galaxy."
"Yes… I'm searching every world. Every planet, dead or thriving…"
"What about Earth?"
"I… the chances are so small."
"You've never wanted to go back there."
"Because… new life exists on it… everything would be different… and I don't want to deal with my memories of that damned little rock any more than I need to."
"Have you searched there?"
"There's a barrier on that planet…I can't see from afar… but if Wendy is there…"
Thamiezel stands from his throne with a new mission embedded in mind. He walks forward, meeting his sister's eyes.
"Do you want me to go, Dip?"
"No. I can handle a little trauma."
Zelestra smirks before moving in for a kiss. A short kiss, yet as sweet as every other.
"I'll keep things in order here, brother."
"I'll be back in a jiffy."
"I've always wanted to ride a jiffy."
Thamiezel laughs before vanishing, moving away from Cul-Cerberon and to the planet he once called home.
Wendy lies beneath the trees, watching the stars and trying to recognize the constellations. The new stars conquered by Thamiezel's empire prevent her from seeing the view she remembers. Ty walks into the clearing, playing music on his ocarina. The hypnotic instrument imbued with magic sooths the souls of the animals and insects. Ty walks over and sits down next to Wendy, watching the stars with her. Over the months, they have grown close. Wendy can see the love in Ty's eyes. The fondness growing ever so slowly for her. And she smiles despite her fears, knowing that he will soon despise her for being Thamiezel's queen.
"So, do you recognize any of the constellations?" Ty asks.
"None. Too many other stars… it's been so long since I've seen them."
"Well, let me help."
Ty begins playing his ocarina. The magic of Gaia takes form and shoots up into the night sky. The power gives life to one of the constellations. Wendy sees Taurus the bull raging across the stars, charging head first into a swarm of enemies and knocking them over. She smiles as another constellation comes to life. The threads of light weave themselves into the shape of Hydra. The multi-headed beast battles with the image of Hercules, who dashes aside and swipes the head of the monster off. Two more heads grow in its place.
"I met a Hydra once. It called itself Billy."
Ty's music squeaks off key. He sets the ocarina down and laughs with Wendy.
"Billy the Hydra… weird."
"Yeah… so where's the Big Dipper?"
Ty smiles and rests his head in Wendy's lap. He plays a soft, delicate tune as the stars overhead weave themselves into two human-like figures. The Big Dipper and Little Dipper. The two figures walk together through the sky, marching off beyond the horizon. And then the music stops.
"You know… I was going to… I wanted to kill myself once." Ty whispers. Wendy looks down, meeting his kind eyes.
"What?"
"Yeah… I was only fourteen… family was shit. Such a big pile of shit. I just got beat up by my mom's boyfriend. They all were crap, but he was the worst. He liked to take it out on me. This was the third time… so I walked into the forest. Walked far away from everyone. I had some rope and, in case I couldn't find a good branch, a gun. I found a clearing like this. Looked up at the stars… I loved looking at stars. All the constellations… thought everything up there was probably better than down here. I saw the Big and Little Dipper… two brothers. And I realized not everyone has a big brother to help them out… not everyone has that person. And they're all alone. Just like I was… and I thought 'you know what? I'll go be the big brother for people who don't have one.' I knew a fun kid with shit parents like mine. And I realized that if he didn't have me, he'd be alone… so I walked out of the forest. Hitched a ride back home. Then three months later, my mom's boyfriend beat me to death."
Wendy is brought to silent tears. She wraps Ty in her arms, pulling him closer and kissing his neck.
"I'm sorry, Ty." she says. She knows what kind of pain she'll put him through. What he'll feel when he discovers she's the missing companion of Thamiezel and Zelestra.
"Thank you… and I've never been alone… not here, with Gaia. With nature."
"I… how come… how come you never left Earth? When you died, you didn't move on?"
"I fought. I was restless… I couldn't go on until my job was done… so I helped my friend get away. Helped him in his dreams… then I went to the forests. I always liked nature, animals. I stayed there… watching everything move. And then, right around when Thamiezel showed up, Gaia came to me. She took me under her wing… I learned to watch over the simpler life in her world. Met a funny pig spirit that kept following me. His name was Waddles."
"I… Mabes had a pig once… named Waddles."
"Probably the same guy. He was a cute little thing."
"Where is he now?"
"Well, when I came back to Earth a couple thousand years ago, I left him with Gaia's fairies. I visit from time to time… but trying to force millions of years of evolution into a couple of millennia is time consuming."
"Yeah, I bet."
"So… I'm looking forward to meeting Dip and Mabes… and Paz, you called her?"
"Yeah. Really? I mean, they're pretty… um, nuts, at times."
"I can deal with it."
Wendy smiles as Ty closes his eyes, resting in her embrace. For the first time in his long life, he returns fully to his human body. A symbol of trust for the woman he has begun to love. And Wendy looks closer at him. She sees his humanity for the first time and instantly recognizes his form. His brown bangs, his brown eyes, the curve of his lips.
"Dip… Dipper?!"
"Huh?"
The meeting of Dipper's other is interrupted by a song from somewhere nearby. A song of arrogant, boastful lunacy.
"I've got no strings
To hold me down
To make me fret
Or make me frown!
I once had strings
But now I'm free
To take this world for me!"
Thamiezel walks through the forest, searching for any signs of life. But his body is falling apart. A three clawed tentacle sprouts from his shoulder, attempting to grab ahold of something and free itself. Murky appendages leak and lurch outwards before being dragged back into the center of Thamiezel's mass. The powers of Gaia begin to shred his body, awakening all the lost memories of those he has consumed over thousands of years. The vampire focuses his will on maintaining his form and preventing Gaia's influence from vacuuming away the power he's stolen. Thamiezel's arm brushes against a tree and melts onto it, attempting to pull itself away from his body. Thamiezel forces the slick black mass back onto himself. Thamiezel walks into the clearing, looking at Ty and Wendy. Ty has transformed again, standing in front of Wendy to protect her from the invader.
"Who are you?"
"I am a traveling minstrel looking for his patsy." Thamiezel responds. His teeth shimmer brightly in the dark night. Two crimson eyes pierce out of the blanket of darkness that his body has become. Thamiezel is ready for battle. Wendy stands and attempts to prevent the fight. But Ty recognizes the voice of Thamiezel. He hears the mad glee, the love of destruction. Ty charges against the vampire, crashing through the forest before dashing upwards, carrying Thamiezel into the sky and away from Wendy.
"You seem angry with me. But I don't recall ever meeting you." Thamiezel says as his fangs saliva drips from his mouth.
"You destroyed our home. You ruined countless lives. Now, I'm returning the favor."
Ty punches the vampiric mass. Thamiezel's face bursts into sludge with the focused power of Gaia. The supreme vampire realizes that the reason he feared Earth, that the reason he struggles to maintain his divine power, is the presence of Gaia's servant. Thamiezel reforms his face and stabs into Ty with his fingers, attempting to corrupt the blood of Gaia's soldier. But the blood of Gaia's servant is like an antidote, one made to harm the poison of Thamiezel's evil. Thamiezel retracts his melting hand and glares with mad glee at his new opponent.
"You'll be fun to play with."
Thamiezel is kicked in the stomach. He responds by slamming both fists down on Ty's head, sending him back to the Earth. Thamiezel focuses his dark power, creating a ball of fire that he throws at his enemy. But it isn't Ty who blocks it. Wendy charges at the ball of flame and stands in front of it. Thamiezel stops the power and gathers it back into his body. The vampire sees the fire in Wendy's eyes. The same love she shows him in her fiercest moments.
"My little Wendy… I see you've made a new friend."
Thamiezel descends to the planet despite Gaia's power being strongest in the forests. Wendy and Thamiezel approach Ty, who stands ready for battle against the great vampire.
"I see my little general has gone native… I can see why. Such a hunk."
Thamiezel purrs playfully, earning more of Ty's wrath. He charges for the great vampire, but Wendy stands between them. She meets Ty's fierce eyes. Ty sees Thamiezel's prideful grin, the smile of a monster that enjoys its evil games, not realizing that it is a mask Thamiezel has put on so Ty won't discover Wendy is the queen of the vampiric twins.
"Wendy dear, tell me the name of this wonderful person."
"I… we have to talk. All of us." Wendy replies.
"But first, where is that angel, Alice? And her brood?"
"Don't know. That's not important. We have to talk, now."
Ty and Thamiezel meet each other's gaze. Knowing Wendy is the only one preventing them from destroying each other, Thamiezel relents, his dark aura retreating. He appears as a pale man with his fangs hidden by a mangled mouth. He no longer grins psychotically, simply smirks at Ty.
"As you wish, Wendy."
Thamiezel moves out from under Wendy's protection and approaches Ty with a limp. Thamiezel's leg bursts open, causing him to fall. He stands again, retaking his rebellious powers within his body.
"Guardian… would you kindly turn off the power? It's getting to me."
"We aren't fighting. But I don't have to make things comfortable. Not unless you give up all those souls inside of you."
"Inside of me? No, they're elsewhere… although that doesn't seem to be stopping their remains from stepping out of line."
Thamiezel approaches Ty, feeling Gaia's strength flowing out of her warrior, damaging the vampire's essence. Wendy walks forward and sits down. Ty walks over to her, never breaking eye contact with his opponent.
"Wendy, what is this about?" Ty asks.
"Your face… show him your face."
"Why? So he can fuck with my head?"
"Ty… please… and Thamiezel, you need to see this."
Thamiezel sighs and walks over, taking a seat while resting his head in one of his hands. Ty stands and begins to walk away, turning away in shame.
"Ty, I need you to stay here… please." Wendy pleads. He turns around. He sees her eyes. The eyes he has come to love, begging him to stay. Ty returns and sits down, meeting with his greatest enemy as if they were the best of friends.
"So, Ty, is it? I see Wendy loves you… and I can see why. Not my personal preference, but I see it."
"Tham… not now. Not right now." Wendy says, shaking her head at Thamiezel's vileness. His dark smile fades. He sees the seriousness of the situation, but cannot grasp the truth in her eyes, having to keep his mind focused on preventing his body from disintegrating.
"So… show me your face, Ty… short for… Tyrone?"
"Yes…"
Ty goes silent, waiting for any sign from Wendy, hoping that she isn't simply toying with his heart. Ty sighs and begins releasing his power. He returns to the body he once had when he died. And Thamiezel sees his mirror, his double. Thamiezel ignores the pain in his body and forces his mind into Ty's, learning his thoughts, his history. Instead of a trap, he finds a human given the power of Gaia. The blood of the twins flows through Ty's veins, the same humanity that Thamiezel started from. And as Thamiezel removes his twisted gaze from Ty's defenseless mind, he giggles.
"Something funny?"
"Born in 1999, no doubt." Thamiezel says.
"Huh?"
"You were born then, weren't you? 1999… about August or September."
"How did you-"
"Heh… heh heheh…"
"You think something's funny, you psycho?"
"Yes… it's all a joke, isn't it?... Everything I've ever done… a big, stupid gag!"
Thamiezel jumps to his feet and falls over, holding his stomach and kicking his legs while laughing psychotically.
"It's all a bit joke on me! A big, stupid gag on the ol' Dippingsauce! I was meant to suffer! I get it now! I'll never be happy! All because some stupid, crazy fuck of a god decided to play the biggest prank in the cosmos! Well, I GET IT NOW!"
Thamiezel stands up as tears stream down his face, unable to control his body as he gazes to the sky.
"I get it! So come out and we can all have a good laugh! Is it Narly? Did you do this? How about you, you big stupid dragon! Yeah, you! I'm talking to you, you stupid vampire king! Or maybe it was Justin Kerprank! That's a good one! HAHAHA!"
The insanity draws the attention of Alice and her sons, watching the vampire fall down, curling up in a ball, cackling and crying while Ty and Wendy watch him fall apart.
"It's… it's all a big… a big joke… on little ol' me…"
The laughter turns to whimpering. The small whimpers become choked tears. And then silence takes control. Thamiezel shakes on the ground, keeping his eyes away from Ty and Wendy. And then he darts up, grabbing Ty's hand and shaking rapidly.
"I'm so… I'm so happy we've met… I get it now. I'm completely pointless… everything I've ever done, everything I've become, planned from the start…"
"Stop… please…"
Wendy walks over, staring at him, pleading him to come back from his inner darkness.
"Wendy… Wendy Corduroy… you beautiful contradiction… loving him and still fighting for the game of war…"
Thamiezel's head falls onto her shoulders, breathing deep of her air, unable to hide the love he feels for her. He squeezes her tightly, showing that Ty's lover is the lost third queen of the vampires, Taurgarus.
"You… Taurgarus…"
"She is wonderful, isn't she? Her power, her desire, her fighting spirit… I suppose that is why you love her. Same reason I do… and her shred of humanity… My name is Dipper Pines, Tyrone."
Thamiezel removes his hat and tosses it aside, threading his hands through his hair and revealing the birthmark on his head. He's lost his mind, unable to hide any part of who he is to his double.
"I was part of an ancient alien conspiracy, once. But I was just some dumb kid getting into things way over his head… funny… I always wanted a better name… I thought Tyrone was a good fit long ago. The name came to me in dreams… dreams where I was lost… and now my beautiful Tyrone, you have finally come back to me."
Ty begins to back away from the mad creatures as Alice comes forward, seeing Ty and Thamiezel together.
"Hey Alice, look who it is! It's me and myself!"
"Who… who the hell are you?" Alice asks. Ty is speechless. He has just met the most dangerous creature in existence, and he broke down in tears the second he saw Ty's face. And now everyone recognizes Ty despite never seeing him before.
"I… I bet you're a bit confused, eh, bro? I- I bet you're wondering 'just what in the hell is wrong with everyone!' Well, don't worry. I'll explain everything. Then we can laugh together. Laugh at the hands of the blind idiot god that tormented us, that put us in the proper places just so we could meet like this… beautiful, isn't it, Wendy?"
"Dip… just show him." Wendy says sternly. Thamiezel giggles slightly before attempting to regain his composure. He shakes his head like a dog, wipes the tears from his face, and then retrieves his hat. He places it on his head and smirks at Ty.
"I, yes… of course… Tyrone… I would like you to meet my sister. Zelestra, queen of the great vampires, the one who will put this whole game in perspective… unless you'd rather go back to being protector of this planet, never knowing the cruel game played by fate… in fact, if I were you, I would do that. Just forget about me and my silly red haired Wendy. Go back to Gaia's loving arms and forget I even exist."
Ty looks away. He now sees the insanity that Wendy hid. That she was not simply a reluctant general. That she was a monster too, a beast. That she enjoyed obliterating planets without regret, along with her lover, Thamiezel himself. The vampire who ruined Earth. He begins to walk away, leaving a silent Wendy and a delirious Thamiezel watching. But Ty turns around, looking in Wendy's eyes.
"Wendy… was it real? Or was I just a quick fuck… just another toy…"
Wendy swallows, knowing she must choose her words carefully, lest the new twin fade back into his duties protecting the restored planet.
"I… at first… I was tense… I was worried and I just… I just wanted a good fuck… yeah, I didn't think. I didn't think at all… but when we… were together, I liked it. I wanted you to come back with me. To come back with us… but I knew you hated them. Dip and Mabes… you hated them for killing this planet. And… and I didn't know what to do… so I just hoped… hoped I could find a way…"
Ty begins to cry. He clenches his fists, feeling enraged by Wendy playing with his heart. He walks back to Thamiezel anyways, desiring to learn the truth of his place in the life of his enemies.
"Tyrone… come with us to Cul-Cerberon. No tricks, no backstabbing… just meet with my sister and I."
"Why?"
"Because your power is poison to ours. If she were to come here, she would be damaged. And despite what rumors have said, I do have some semblance of a heart. I never could bear to see her cry, although that might happen anyways. So come with me. I've already called a goblin ship. It should be here shortly."
Ty waits for the hour of reckoning. He can see it in Thamiezel's eyes. The vampire knows Ty. Thamiezel has seen him before. And yet, Ty has never encountered the monster before him. The one he's dreamed of destroying to avenge the Earth and all the other planets enslaved by the twins' empire. In spite of his anger he prepares to go with them.
The ship arrives and takes Thamiezel, Wendy, Alice and her sons, and Ty to Cul-Cerberon. Ty clenches his fists when he sees the hardened shell that protects the planet, ruining all signs of Gaia's gift of life. But when the ship goes within the protective shield, Ty sees the wonders hidden by Thamiezel's shadow. A serene world filled with life and covered in gigantic cities that spread out into the horizon. The dim lights bathe the world in permanent twilight. As the ship moves closer to the great tower of Thamiezel, Ty can see the great forests that divide the cities. He can feel the breath of the world, the heartbeat of life within the great shell. The ship leaves Thamiezel, Wendy, and Ty at the balcony of the throne room. Ty can see the throne, a shared seat of power large enough for four. The four rulers of the galaxy, united in the same realm. And he knows that Wendy is one of those four. Pacifica walks into the room, wearing a turquoise blue dress and diamond earrings.
"Wendy! You're back!"
Pacifica runs over to the fiery haired lover, jumping into her warm embrace. Thamiezel takes the opportunity to disappear, leaving Ty alone with the two lovers.
"And Dip's back." Pacifica says, turning to Ty.
"Uh, we should talk." replies Wendy, threading her right hand through her hair.
"So Dip, how do you like my dress?"
Pacifica twirls in place, stopping and meeting Ty's gaze. She gives him a heated look. But he can only stare. Thamiezel reemerges from the shadows, returning to his human form, baring a frown. He meets Pacifica's gaze. She shifts her eyes between the twins.
"I… is this a joke, Dip?"
"Only at our expense… this is Tyrone, Gaia's servant… born August 28th, 1999. Died fourteen years later… and someone I've felt before, long ago. Before I was changed."
Ty begins to realize the meaning behind Thamiezel's words. He begins to solve the enigma of Wendy's behavior, of the vampire's insanity. He remembers a conversation from long ago. When his mother was drunk.
"Just!... fuck off, you little shit!" she cried.
"What is… why do you hate me?" he asked, lips trembling on the verge of tears.
"You… I should never have taken you… shit…"
He begins to realize the truth of his existence. He realizes that his mother stole him. That she took him from his family, now reunited after all this time.
"I… no… this isn't… this isn't real…"
"Ty?" Wendy says, worriedly.
"Get away from me! It's a trick!"
Ty backs away from Thamiezel and his two queens, cowering away from the truth.
"You're lying! You're all lying!"
"Brother… I wish this was a lie. Or a dream… but it seems fate has put the Pines in their proper places… all for this moment…"
"Shut up! Shut up you piece of shit!... Stop… lying…"
Ty falls to the ground, choking on his sobs. He doesn't want to cry. He doesn't want to give Thamiezel the satisfaction of seeing him cry. He doesn't want to let his enemy see him break.
"Stop… lying."
A warm hand cups his face. Ty looks up, seeing Wendy. He leaps into her embrace, desperate for her love even after she hurt him.
"I… I'm so sorry, Ty… I never… I never should have…"
"I'm… stop… hurting…"
Thamiezel hovers away, leaving his brother with Wendy and Pacifica. He searches for his sister's presence, finding her in the chambers with Bill Cipher and the remaining generals of Thamiezel's empire.
"Bill Cipher, have you retrieved Halstur's sister?" asks Zelestra.
"Retrieved and sent back. She's good as new! Aside from, you know, getting raped by demons."
Zelestra grumbles, tapping her nails on the table impatiently. Thamiezel enters the room with a somber visage.
"Did you find her?" Zelestra asks, eyeing her brother.
"Yes. And our long lost twin brother."
Zelestra giggles before turning back to her forces. Thamiezel moves in and sits down, looking at each of his generals.
"Funny… it really is funny, isn't it, sister?"
"What is?"
"Tyrone Pines. Servant of Gaia."
"What are you talking about? Did your head get bumped on the way home?"
Zelestra smirks, turning to meet her brother's gaze. But he's frowning, his mind unfocused as he stares into space.
"Brother… what's wrong?"
"Go to the throne. I'll finish up with our generals."
"Brother… are you… you're not lying?"
"No… no, I am not…"
The queen is silent. She stands up and moves to the throne as a shadow, leaving her brother below. She ascends to the throne room and finds Wendy and Pacifica together. Pacifica turns to her, the same worried expression in her eyes.
"Mabes?"
"What is going on?"
Wendy steps forward, twiddling her thumbs awkwardly.
"So, uh, I was stuck on Earth… and I met this awesome guy. I figured 'hey, we're all going to die horribly and be tortured. Might as well have a good fuck.' And… he hates us… and if I knew he wouldn't be with us, I'd never have done it… and he showed me his face… it's Dipper's face. The same face…"
"And… where is he?"
"He left… just ran away… I think he went to the forest outside the city."
"He… are you sure? Are you sure you didn't just find some weird goatman who looks like my brother?"
"I… I don't think so… they're too much alike."
Zelestra leaves through the balcony, desperate to find the stranger with her brother's face. She finds a lone figure wandering through the forest. He falls down beneath a tree, curling up in a ball and shaking. The queen reforms her body, approaching the lone figure. He looks up with bloodshot eyes, seeing the image of the vampire queen.
"Come to laugh at me?" Ty says, his voice hoarse and broken.
"I… who are you?"
Zelestra moves in closer. She sits on her knees, looking at the face of her brother. The same face as Thamiezel's, human and lost in an uncaring world. Zelestra places a hand on his cheek. But it burns her toxic body. She rips her hand away, damaged by Gaia's power.
"Ow." Zelestra flatly says, giggling at the strange power capable of harming her.
"So… I guess I have a new brother."
Zelestra places her hand on his face again, this time ignoring the pain.
"So… Ty… bet you never thought you had famous relatives."
"Stay away."
"I… do you want to go back to Earth?"
"I… I don't know…"
"Well, I've got nothing better to do."
Zelestra sits down at her brother's side, watching the trees sway in the wind and listening to the sound of the thriving beings.
"You know, brother, I don't often take the time to enjoy life anymore… but this… is wonderful."
"Why?... Why do you care?"
"Because I'm always looking out for my brother. I just never knew there was more than one… strange."
"… Please leave… just go."
Zelestra stands and begins walking away. She hesitates for a moment and looks back at the lonely human. Then she leaves the guardian of the woods alone.